Parking sign on St. Paul Street in downtown Kamloops/via Paul James

Longer term parking issues in downtown Kamloops and beyond appear poised to head before City Council in the not-too-distant future.

With City Gardens on its way up, and other developments — including a possible Centre for the Performing Arts — being considered, Community Services Manager Will Beatty says he’s current putting together a new parking strategy for council to consider.

Among the potential changes, said Beatty, may include an uptick in enforcement.

“The consequence has to be enough to deter somebody from parking in a downtown area on the side of the street all day,” argued Beatty.  “There’s multiple enforcement strategies being considered, [including increased] ticket and towing.”

Beatty says his report will also address event parking downtown, including a possible option to team up with the private lots during big events.

“You’ll see a lot of business districts, kind of downtown Seattle and different areas that all of their surface lots that are even privately owned are turned into event-style parking,” noted Beatty in an interview with Radio NL.

He says his report will also address possible changes to residential parking strategies, particularly around parking passes.

“We have been looking at how that can be better utilized for certain hundred-blocks, as well as if the requirements need to change, or if we need to charge for those parking permits,” said Beatty.

It’s not clear when Beatty’s report will go before council.

The suggestions come on the heels of council finalizing this year’s outdoor patio program, which is set to eliminate around a dozen downtown parking spaces from April 1st to the end of October.